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Hi All
Results off meeting with Andy Burham last Friday.
Hi Alan
I have attached a response to the meeting which was sent to the papers and a copy of a letter given out to parents which other parents could fill out and send online to Wigan.
I also think that if you advertise the school website www.heskethfletcher.sch.uk people can see all that we do within school and in the community which may persuade more people to support us.
See you soon
Josie
Local residents/parents meeting with Andy Burnham Friday 26th June 2009 The people protesting against the closure of Hesketh Fletcher High School thought that the meeting was well attended by a range of stakeholders including parents, past pupils of the school, teaching and non-teaching staff, governors and local residents. One notable absence was any representative of Manchester Diocese which has a role to play in the governance and the future of the school. Whilst Andy Burnham seemed willing to listen to all the concerns expressed by the people at the meeting it was obvious that he had already made up his mind about what the future of education was to be in Atherton; he was not as open minded as the people most directly concerned with this issue hoped that he would be. Although he made notes and assured us that he would take our concerns to the LA the meeting did not get the feeling that there were any guarantees that the LA would listen. The people at the meeting were not convinced that either the LA or Andy fully understood the passionate feelings that this issue has evoked in the local community or that any of the many questions have been answered throughout this very flawed consultation process. The local community remembers both Andy and councilor Susan Loudon coming into school and saying that Hesketh Fletcher would not close. Of course in Political Speak this means that they can interpret that as not necessarily keeping a High School but having some form of Educational Establishment on this site. Again there is no guarantee that this will happen as it actually says in the consultation booklet on page 3 that there ‘may be’ 14-19 provision here. The people feel that the key issue is really how the LA can keep a school at the ‘heart of the community’, a phrase frequently repeated in the same document, when Atherton children will be scattered through Westleigh, Tyldesley, Bedford and Hindley. Community cohesion will disintegrate in Atherton and all the ensuing problems that go with such as breakdown will be intensified and aggravated. If this closure goes ahead Atherton Children will always be on the periphery of any school that they go to; they will be listed on the admissions criteria as being outside the area and only be considered after ‘looked after’ children, local children and siblings of those already in the schools I.e. At the bottom of the list. How will they feel if they are rejected from first and second choice schools? Atherton children deserve an Atherton High School and it is discriminatory to suggest that they can easily travel. Why should they have this added pressure when beginning their secondary education? It puts them at a disadvantage before they even start secondary school. Parents also want to know why the LA Governor for the school, councilor Susan Loudon, is working for its closure. Surely the purpose of a school governor is to fight for the rights of the school and its pupils not against them? It is felt that this is a conflict of interest on her part and that she should resign. Councilor Loudon’s repeated claim that the school has only had 60+ first choices muddies the issue as parents have been influenced by the rumors of closure that have been circulating for three years. Where was the council’s guarantee of clear catchments areas then?
Please print off I will up load to both sites.
Atherton Parents Association 1st July 2009 To Whom it May concern I would like to add my support to the request that Hesketh Fletcher High School remains open. The community of Atherton, which numbers approximately 22,000 people, deserves to have a High School of its own to serve as a centre for community cohesion and development. Without the High School, one of the few remaining facilities that the town has, there would be nothing left in Atherton for the local community to focus on and this would inevitably lead to social breakdown. Apart from the vital issue of leaving the heart of the community where it is, I would also like to say that the school provides an excellent nurturing and learning environment for my child and that their attachment to the school is very real and needs to be maintained. I do not see why they cannot remain at the school which is easy to access, cuts down on the need for transport and delivers an extremely good standard of education. The staff are rightly proud of what they do and the contribution that they make to developing the skills of Atherton’s future residents. I can understand anyone wanting to improve the standards of further education at this end of the Borough but do not accept that it has to be a stand alone 14 to 19 centre. It could, just as easily, be an 11 to 19 centre and Atherton’s children would have the opportunity to remain where they flourish for longer. Andy Burnham has assured us that our concerns will be addressed and that everyone’s opinion will be considered before the LA makes a decision. I hope that the same guarantee will be forthcoming from the local council. The 2,200 signatures on our petition clearly indicate what the local people want. My point is, why change what works well for Atherton and make us a dormitory town on the edge of several other townships? This will not improve our confidence in our local representatives and we need to be listened to. Yours sincerely Parent of ______________________ Address: | ||
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